Bouquet-holder.



M. E. EDWARDS. BOUQUET HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. I915- Svwevntoz Patented May 23,1916.

MASENA E. EDWARDS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

BOUQUET-HOLDER.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MASENA E. EDWARDS,-

citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Bouquet-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bouquet holders, and more particularly to a holder which is adapted for securing natural orartificial flowers in the hair or dress of the wearer.

The object of the invention is to construct a light, simple, and durable holder which will permit a bouquet to be readily inserted or removed, and which can be produced at a comparatively small cost.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a holder with means whereby a card may be placed thereon, the card being lettered to designate the'name of the flowers, and to serve to assist in preventing disengagement of the same from the holder.

With the above and other objects in view my invention resides preferably in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth in the specifi- .cation and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the improved flower holder; Fig. 2 is a front elevation; Fig. 3 is a top plan view;'Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the gripping jaws in operative position.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a frame comprising upper and lower bars 2 and 3 respectively, end bars 4, and an intermediate semi-circularly shaped offset portion 5, lugs 6 being formed adjacentthe upper edge of the offset portion 5 to receive therebetween one end of a pin 7 which is adapted for use in securing the holder to the wearer, the free or penetrating end of the pin being adapted to be received beneath a tongue 8 formed upon the lower portion of the said oflt'set portion.

A pair of gripping jaws 9 and 10 are adapted to be pivoted to the frame adjacent the ofi'set portion 5 and are adapted to coact to clamp a bouquet to the holder. The jaw 9 comprises a body portlon having a tongue 11 formed thereon which is adapted to be received between the bifurcated portion 12 of the jaw .10 when'the holder s Specification 'of Letters Patent species of flower they belong.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed March 5, 1915. Serial No. 12,365.

in a position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Ears 13 are formed upon the upper and lower edges of the jaws 9 and 10 and have open ings therein for the reception of rods 15.

The ends of the latter being journaled inlugs 14 formed on the offset portion 5. A wire is coiled about each of the rods 15 having its free terminals bearing against the jaws 9- and 10 while its intermediate portion engages the offset portion 5 as shown. Consequently a strong spring action is obtained which is sufficient to retain the jaws in a normally closed position, such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

It is often desirable to place a card adjacent the bouquet in order to denote to what To accomplish this cheaply and effectively, the end bars 4 may have spring clips 17 secured thereto at one end so that a card may be placed between the clips and the bars when desired, it being readily apparent that the same is removable, and a new one inserted with very little trouble.

In operation, the bouquet to be secured to the holder is placed within the offset portion 5, the jaws 9 and 10 having first been swung outwardly to their full extent by engaging the ends thereof with the thumb and forefinger, and releasing the jaws, the action of the spring 16 serving to force the jaws into tight engagement with the stems of the flowers, it being understood that the holder may be fastened to the person of the wearer, either before or after the bouquet is secured thereto.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be clearly understood, and while I have herein shown and described one specific form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

What is claimed is:

1. A bouquet holder comprising a frame, the intermediate portion of said frame being bent to form a substantially semicircular oflset portion, lugs formed on said offset portion, rods having their ends journaled in said lugs, a pair of gripping jaws having ears provided with openings for the reception of a said rods, a spring coiled about each of said Copies of this patent may be obtains? for five gent s cash, addressing Qtjntplifiipief g; Pptqnts,

with said offset portion, and the ifitrm'e'di ate portion of said spring bearing against said offset portion. 2. In a bouquet circular off-set portion connecting said upper and lower bars intermedlate' sa d end bars, a pair ofgripping jaws piyotallycar ried by said-offset portion, the forward end offone of said jaws being'bifurcated, the

forward end ofv the other of said jaws being constricted so as to be received between the branches of said bifurcation, and-a resilient element engaging said jaws to normally hold the forward ends thereof in engage.

bars, end bars connecting said upper and lower bars, a substantially semi-circular ofl'- set portion connecting said upper and lower I holder, a frame compri sing upper and" lower bars and end bars" Connectmg the Same, a substa ti lly 11 bars intermediate said end bars, lugs formed on said offset portion, rods journaled through said lu'gs, s an of grippingjaws,

ears; on said gripping jaws provided with openings for the reception of said rods therey retain ng i gripping j n p vpt relation to said bars and to said ofl'set por- 'tion, a coil springarranged' about each of said rods, theintermediate portion of said 7 ends of said spring bearing against said "spring engagingsaid offset portion,the'free.

gripping jaws to vnormally retain the forward endsthereof'in engagement with said offset portion, a pin carriedby 'said offset portion for attachment to the garment of the wearer, and resilient clips carried by said end bars to retain a card n connection therewith.

I -testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two. witnesses.

:MA SENA E. EDWARDS. Wit sses= T 1 .P. S IT I, ROGEB 

